A systematic review and two meta-analyses of prison yoga and meditation programs found that participants who completed such programs showed small improvements in psychological well-being (Cohen's d = 0.46) and behavioral functioning (Cohen's d = 0.30). Programs of longer duration and lower intensity had a slightly larger effect on psychological well-being than shorter, more intensive ones. For behavioral functioning, longer programs also had a marginally larger effect (d = 0.424) compared to intensive ones (d = 0.418). The evidence suggests yoga and meditation have favorable effects on prisoners.
Interest in meditation programs in prisons has grown, but empirical evidence for their effectiveness is still emerging. This chapter reviews studies, mostly from the USA, evaluating meditation's impact on mental health, substance misuse, and reoffending. It covers practices like Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and Vipassana, examining their role as adjunct therapy for substance misuse and for enhancing well-being. The chapter critiques key concepts, considers philosophical and historical context, and discusses study limitations and future research directions.